Aloha Sells WWDG to Craig Fox

SYRACUSE — The days of Hot AC on the 105.1 signal out of DeRuyter could be limited; Aloha Stations Trust, LLC has sold WWDG to local owner Craig Fox… in a deal reportedly worth $1.25 million. (Updated 3/7 at 7:00pm)

Radio and Records says Fox will put the station under the “Foxfur Communications” brand. His other local properties include WOLF-FM/WWLF-FM (MOViN 100.3/96.5) and their namesake AM stations (Radio Disney affiliates), grouped as “Cram Communications.” He also owns Christian station WVOA-FM (and others which simulcast it) as “Renard Communications.”

The deal is something of a gain for Fox; Wikipedia’s history of the station notes he received $5 million when he sold it (known then as WVOQ) to Clear Channel in 2001. Shortly after Clear Channel bought the station, it temporarily became WXBB, a simulcast of B104.7 (WBBS). Then, it became “New Rock 105.1 The Dog,” the inspiration for the current call letters. In 2006, Clear Channel changed the station to its current brand, Nova 105-1.

There’s no word yet on what Fox has in mind for the station’s future, but we’ll keep you posted. It’s doubtful Fox will keep the Nova format intact, as it competes somewhat with his own MOViN properties.

Update 3/7: AllAccess.com adds that the deal includes translator W252AC/Camillus (98.3 FM), which is technically coming from Clear Channel. CC originally used the translator to help Nova’s coverage of the Syracuse metro. But as Scott Fybush reported in September 2008, CC flipped the translator over to simulcasting Power 106.9 (WPHR) when it moved WWDG into the Aloha Stations Trust.